NL umpire Eric Gregg has asked NL President Len Coleman for
a leave of absence to initiate a health and conditioning program.
Gregg, who weighs well over 300 pounds, noted the recent death of
John McSherry as the key factor (N.L.). In the wake of
McSherry's death, ESPN's Peter Gammons reports both league
presidents and the MLBUA are "adamant" about the pre-season camps
to develop uniform umpiring methods, more stringent conditioning
programs and having nutritionists work with the umpires
("SportsWeekly," ESPN, 4/7).
WEATHER, OR NOT: The number of weather cancellations has
many, including acting MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, questioning
the early start. Selig: "You have to make a value judgment. Is
it better to play the first week of April or into November?
We've made the value judgment for a lot of reasons that it's
better to open early. However, candor compels me to tell you
that we have to figure out a better solution" (Claire Smith, N.Y.
TIMES, 4/9). Gammons notes The Weather Channel reports that
temperature and precipitation figures are better the first week
of November than the first week of April (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/7).
